The rulers of the Duala are the headmen, chiefs, paramount chiefs, and kings of the Duala people of Cameroon. The earliest known Duala rulers, according to Duala oral history, were Mbongo and his son Mbedi. From Mbedi's home at Pīti, northeast of the modern city of Douala, his sons migrated southward. Ewale a Mbedi settled on the Wouri River at the Bight of Bonny (modern Douala) and became the eponymous founder of the Duala people.[1]

Over time, the Duala split into various lineages. The earliest of these were the Priso sublineage, which established independence from the Bell lineage in the late 18th century.[2] The Akwa lineage followed suit sometime in the early 19th century.[3] Each of these families established a population centre along the banks of the Wouri. By the 19th century, Douala was thus divided into several of these residential areas, referred to as towns.

Beginning as early as the 18th century with Doo a Makongo, European traders began referring to the Duala rulers as chiefs and kings (kine in Duala). A dichotomy emerged under which the rulers of Akwa and Bell were kings, while the leaders of smaller lineages were chiefs or princes.[4] These rulers were often given Europeanised names, such as King George or King Akwa. Beginning with the colonial era, German, French, and British colonial governments designated various Duala rulers as paramount chiefs. During this era, Duala rulers were often deposed and even exiled for any perceived infraction against the colonial government.[5] Traditions of royalty have since ceased in some of these lineages, although in modern times, the royal line of some lineages has been reconstituted after an interregnum.[6]

Early rulers

Reign Common name Duala name Title(s) Remarks
unknown Mbengo/Mbongo ?
unknown Mbedi a Mbongo ? Lived at Pīti, the ancestral home of the Duala and other Sawa ethnic groups.[1]
unknown Ewale a Mbedi ? Eponymous ancestor of the Duala (Dwala). Moved from Piti to Douala. May have had contact with European traders.[1]
Early 17th century Monneba Mulabe/Mulobe a Ewale ? Flourished c. 1630. Mentioned in Dutch sources.[7] His name is the only known for the first 150 years of European contact with the Duala.[8] Father of Mase and Ngie below.

Bonanjo/Bonadoo/Bell lineage

Reign Common name Duala name Title(s) Remarks
unknown Mase a Mulabe ?
unknown Njo a Mase ?
unknown Makongo/Mukonga a Njo ?
Late 18th century Joss or George Doo a Makongo/Mukonga Senior chief, King Flourished 1788–90. Was the senior chief of his time.[9]
Early 19th century Bell Bele a Doo King Eponymous ruler of the Bell lineage. Born c. 1750. Adopted by Joss after seizing his mother. Birth father was a Mungo. Chosen as father's successor after Joss expelled for violent behaviour. Founded Bonaberi, which is named for him.[9]
19th century Bell Bebe a Bele King
?–1858 Bell Lobe a Bebe King Young in 1842. Died 1858.
c. 1858–1897 Ndumbe Lobe Bell Ndumbe a Lobe King, Paramount Chief The famous King Bell who signed the 1884 German-Duala Treaty.
c. 1897–? Manga Ndumbe Bell Manga a Ndumbe King, Paramount Chief
1908–1914 Rudolf Duala Manga Bell Duala Manga King, Paramount Chief Executed in 1914.
?–1966 Alexandre Douala Manga Bell Alexander Ndumbe King Died 1966.
1950?–present Lobe Bell Bell King, Paramount Chief

Bonapriso/Joss sublineage

Reign Common name Duala name Title(s) Remarks
Late 18th century Preshaw, Preese, or Peter Priso a Doo Chief Eldest son of Joss, brother of Bell I. Seems to have lost his inheritance due to violent behaviour with European traders. Eventually came to dominate the town Bonapriso.[9] He may have been known as Peter.[8] Legend states he died at Bimbia.[10]
Doo a Priso Chief
Late 19th century Elame a Doo Chief Signatory to the 1884 German-Duala Treaty.

Bonaberi/Hickory sublineage

Reign Common name Duala name Title(s) Remarks
unknown Mbape a Bele Chief Son of Bell I.
Late 19th century Lock Priso Kum a Mbape Prince, Chief Signatory to the 1884 German-Duala Treaty.

Bonambela/Akwa lineage

This list omits several rulers who served but briefly and who were succeeded by brothers rather than sons.

Reign Common name Duala name Title(s) Remarks
unknown Ngie/Mbela/Mbele a Mulobe ? The Bonabele/Deido sublineage is descended through his son Kwane.
17th or 18th century Mapoka a Ngie ? Tradition holds that he travelled to Europe.[8]
unknown Kue/Kuo a Mapoka ? May have been a slave and adopted son . May have been related to a Bassa group through maternal descent, marriage, or residence.[9]
unknown Kwa a Kuo ?
1814(?)–1846 Akwa Ngando a Kwa King Eponymous ruler of the Akwa lineage. Flourished 1814. He claimed the Bonambela succession after the death of Ewonde and claimed equal standing with Bele.[9] Died 1846.
mid-19th century Akwa Mpondo a Ngando King
before 1879–c. 1905 Akwa Dika a Mpondo King, Paramount Chief Was in power in 1879. Served five months hard labour for exploiting several oil wells in Bassa villages in 1905.[11]
unknown Ernest Betote Akwa Betote King, Paramount Chief Died 1976.

Bonebele/Deido sublineage

Reign Common name Duala name Title(s) Remarks
Late 18th century Quan or Angua Kwane a Ngie Chief Son of Ngie. Flourished 1788–90. He seems to have been the most powerful Duala ruler during the time of Doo (King George).[9]
Early 19th century Ewonde a Kwane Chief Duala tradition states that his daughter Lesenge married into Isubu royalty and was the mother of King William I of Bimbia.[12]
unknown Enjobe Chief He was an Abo captive or immigrant. Married Kanya, daughter of above.[9]
unknown Ebele a Enjobe Chief Eponymous founder of the Bonabele (Pidgin: Deido) sublineage.
before 1845 – after 1874 Ned Deido Ebule an Ebele Chief
1876 Charley Deido Eyum an Ebele Chief Younger half brother of Ebule. Executed in 1876.
1876–after 1884 Ekwala Chief Signatory of the 1884 German-Duala Treaty.
unknown Epee Paramount Chief
?–c.1900 Eboa[13] Paramount Chief
c. 1900–1949 Interregnum
1949–present Ekwala II ?

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Austen and Derrick 9.
  2. ↑ Jackson, a British trader from the period, gives the date for this split as 1814, as reported in Austen and Derrick 38.
  3. ↑ Jackson gives the date for this split as 1814. Austen and Derrick, p. 38, caution against giving the date too much credence.
  4. ↑ Austen and Derrick 6.
  5. ↑ Austen and Derrick 132.
  6. ↑ Worldstatesmen.org.
  7. ↑ Austen and Derrick 15.
  8. 1 2 3 Austen and Derrick 37.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Austen and Derrick 36.
  10. ↑ Austen and Derrick 46.
  11. ↑ Austen and Derrick 107.
  12. ↑ Austen and Derrick 7, 38.
  13. ↑ Worldstatesmen.org calls him Esaka.

References

  • Austen, Ralph A., and Derrick, Jonathan (1999): Middlemen of the Cameroons Rivers: The Duala and their Hinterland, c. 1600–c.1960. Cambridge University Press.
  • Cameroon Traditional states. Worldstatesmen.org. Accessed 1 June 2006.
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